College of Fine Arts and Production

The new outdoor stage for Ethington Theatre productions has been constructed in time for the first play of the season, “The Comedy of Errors,” which begins Wednesday night. It turned into an educational project for College of Fine Arts and Production staff and students. “I think we’re uniquely suited for this,” COFAP Assistant Dean William Symington said. “It’s been a challenge, but we create a problem-solving way of thinking of how to do something in a different way and how to make a positive out of it.”

Studio space already was hard to come by, even before the pandemic. That’s why nueBOX is working with multiple members of the GCU dance community to offer a safe space to allow them to continue their craft. “I was afraid when I graduated that I’d be counting the days until I could dance again,” said Isiah Johnson, a GCU spring 2020 graduate and nueBOX summer residency recipient. “It’s nice to have it still be as much a part of my schedule as it was before.”

In times of struggle birds of a feather fly together; at least that’s how GCU Dance Director Susannah Keita sees it. With the pandemic’s huge impact on the arts community, Keita saw an opportunity to bring dance alums together via Zoom to discuss tips and advice on how to get through the pandemic and continue your career in times of COVID-19.

The Pineda brothers, Josh and Jake, have used their GCU degrees in Digital Design with an Emphasis in Web Design to get off to a strong start in the field. But that’s not where their similarities end. Hardly. They hung out together when they both were on campus, and now they share their common interests when they travel.

GCU’s effort to produce cloth face masks has been joined by College of Fine Arts and Production costume designer Nola Yergen, who has recruited several GCU Hotel employees to add pleating. It makes the coverings fit more like traditional hospital masks, but it’s important for an even bigger reason. “This is about teamwork,” Yergen said.

Mykhal Polite was at the starting line to the rest of his life when COVID-19 halted life as we knew it. Not long before he was slated to start a job as a gold rush re-enactor for Alaskan Cruise Lines, the pandemic put the theatre student’s plans on hold. Polite has used the stay-at-home time to work on casting letters and is video auditioning for productions such as a “Power Rangers” reboot.

For some ground classes, the transition to online seemed as though they were a perfect pair. But for others, instructors had to get a little more creative. That’s exactly what Mark Fearey did when he utilized the GCU Recording Studio to create quality audio for students doing their recitals.

A group of seniors in the Dance Department felt blessed to have been at the American College Dance Association’s West Conference when they found out about the cancellation of their final Spring Dance Concert. They got to perform together one last time after being chosen for the conference’s gala. “The seniors in the cast, knowing it was their last performance as members of GCU’s Ethington Dance Ensemble, gave their most heartfelt performances to date. It was a bittersweet moment, to be sure,” said Susannah Keita, Director of the Dance Department.

It wasn’t the ending they had wanted, but the Ethington Theatre department wasn’t going to let COVID-19 rob them of the opportunity to experience the final production of “The Drowsy Chaperone.” So what did they do? On the final night of rehearsal last week, shortly after receiving the news that all campus events would be canceled for the remainder of the semester, the cast performed what would be their only run-through of the anticipated production right then and there, with no costumes, a half finished set and other production details. It was an experience students won’t soon forget.

Tonight is the last chance this spring to view the choreography talents of students in the College of Fine Arts and Production’s dance program. The Spring Student Spotlight Concert, at 7:30 in Thunderground, features 17 student pieces. “The show is very diverse, and it shows a lot of different facets to dance,” said Bekki Price, Program Development Specialist for the College of Fine Arts and Production. “It’s a really fun and unique way to come get exposed to the arts and what we have to offer at GCU.”